VOL XXXXVI No 6 DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020

ASTON ROWANT, & CROWELL PARISH NOTES

The Ridgeway Mark Lord

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR ADVERTISERS Please support them all CONTENTS

KB Village Hall Diary Dates 5 Useful Phone Numbers Church Contacts & Services 6 Crowell church 7 Love is in the air at Mercure Lambert this Valentines’ Day! Let Christmas Services 8 your heart race and your mind drift back to a sweeter time as we present KB STreet Fayre, Parish Council Website 9 a Valentines’ Dinner with The Jersey Boys. This popular Frankie Valli & The Parish Council & Local Contacts 10 Four Seasons tribute band will rock your world and as they take you on a journey from the very beginning of The Four Seasons’ number one hits. Parish Council News 11 Aston Rowant Parish Council Notes 12 £34.95 to include a three-course Valentines’ Dinner – or why not make a night Neighbourhood Plan, Traffic Calming 15 of it for £149.00. To book please contact our events team on 01844 351 496 Aston Rowant School House Trust 16 Footpaths & Amenities Group 17 News from Fiveways 19 Noticeboard 20 News from ARCC 23 Tessa Wyatt’s Countryside Diary 25 Citizens Advice, Heating Oil 27 Good Neighbour Scheme 29 Letter from the Headteacher 33

Editor Proofreading Sarah Day Hew Reid 351300 351357 [email protected] With special thanks to Information in this Advertising our team of distributors, publication is, as far Julian Knight as we know, accurate. for their continuing 351315 The Parish Notes hard work. however, cannot accept [email protected] responsibility for the quality of the Treasurer & Distribution information, services Peter Lambert or items provided by 352617 other people or organisations. [email protected]

3 KINGSTON BLOUNT VILLAGE HALL DIARY

Zumba Flowers 4 All every Monday 6.30pm third Thursday of every month 07834 994699 7748408442 (Hillwerke Recreational Trust Reg Charity No. 279656) Kettlebell Abs Gentle Chair Based Exercises Charges for Hire – Effective 1st January 2020 every Wednesday 6.00pm every alternate Friday from 10.30am 07801 553019 with Rachel & Wendy Hawkins For Residents of the Parish of Aston Rowant 07552 185499 Monday–Sunday & Bank Holidays Yoga with Rachel Hawkins Main Hall (8am–midnight) 14.00 per hour every Wednesday 7.00pm Committee Room only £8.50 per hour 07552 185499 Children’s Parties (daytime) £40.00 (3-4 hours)

For Non-Residents of the Parish of Aston Rowant USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Monday–Sunday & Bank Holidays CAB Local office www.adviceguide.org.uk 01844 214827 Main Hall (8am–midnight) £15.00 per hour Village Centre 01844 353733 Committee Room only £9.50 per hour Church Tower, Aston Rowant: R Newton 01844 352926 Children’s Parties (daytime) £50.00 (3-4 hours) Dial-a-ride (for people with mobility problems) 01869 327048 Highways Pothole Hotline 0845 3101111 All weekend hire – Fri mid-day to Sun mid-day Highways Street Light Hotline 0800 317802 Resident £500; Non Resident £620 Library-Chinnor 01844 351721 Oil Syndicate [email protected]. 01844 350440 All day hire – 8am to midnight Oxon County Council www..gov.uk 01865 792422 Resident £210; Non Resident £225 Police-Thame (Thames Valley) 101 or 999 Poor’s Hillock Allotments: Rupert Wolstenholme 07866 302697 All evening hire – 5pm to midnight [email protected] Resident £85; Non Resident £90 Porch: S Thompson 01844 351334 Porch: J Rooksby 01844 352320 Bar Licence (if required) will incur an additional charge of £20 Post office-Chinnor 01844 351214 Schools: To make a booking, email [email protected], phone 07391 139707 Aston Rowant C of E School 01844 351671 or visit our website www.kbvh.org where you will also find a full Icknield Community College Watlington 01491 612691 description of the facilities we can offer plus details of activities Lord Williams School Thame 01844 210510 currently taking place in the hall. Mill Lane School Chinnor 01844 352106 St Andrew’s C of E, Chinnor 01844 351353 SODC Main Customer Services 01235 422422 SODC Refuse/Recycling 03000 610610 SODC Planning 01235 422600 Reporting Fly-tipping 03000 610610 SODC Environmental Department 01235 422403

4 5 LOCAL CHURCH CONTACTS Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Crowell Rector to the United Parish To be appointed Due to the continuance of the Vacancy, Crowell services have remained reduced to The Rectory, Chinnor OX39 4DH one per month on Sundays plus one Soul Space per month on a Saturday. 01844 354626 Adding Eucharist to the Evening Prayer service on the first Sunday of alternate Assistant Curate months has been well received. See below for extra services over December. The Rev’d Dr. Jacky Barr, please contact via Church office These have been made possible by support from the whole Ministry Team so Parish Administrator please do come and support. You will be ‘warmly’ welcomed as the heating system has Tricia Prescott [email protected] been completely replaced and is running well. The relaying of the floor tiles is nearly Chinnor Church Office, OX39 4PG 01844 352472 complete. Associate Clergy: The B4009 bank has been cleared of dead wood and so the carpark is now open to view. This will assist police passing patrols. Some more dead wood will be cut out Aston Rowant and the bank is about to be planted with bulbs. The ‘rainbow garden’ has also been The Rev’d Des Foote 01844 355945 planted with bulbs. (Please don’t tell Mr and Mrs Squirrel). The carpark remains a The Rev’d Dr. Brian Griffiths 01844 355953 problem due increasing damage caused by heavy wear at this time of the year. This is Crowell being closely monitored. There is still no money to support this heavy use and no solid To be appointed offers of financial help from the users. Our insurance company has now passed its Churchwardens opinion and given advice on what we need to do. Aston Rowant: Richard Boarder 07795 681263, Jeremy Wilcock 01844 761119 Someone has hit one of the carpark gate posts and damaged it.That person has Crowell: Maggie & Andy Warman 01844 351909 been too dishonest to admit causing the damage. The vehicle involved will also have PCC Treasurer been damaged. Anyone like to own up? Michael DeVal12 Oakley Road, Chinnor OX39 4HB 07807 967452 Despite the existence of a black bin, plastic wrappings and other non-composta- ble materials are still being thrown on the compost heap. The graveyard should be a For arrangements for Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage please contact the Parish pleasant, restful place for all to use however they choose to grieve or remember. Please Administrator (see above). use the facilities provided. Methodist Services – Station Road, Chinnor This goes for dog poo as well. Someone found it amusing to hang a filled bag on the ‘no fouling’ sign next to the black bin. Sorry to keep moaning but if people could LOCAL CHURCH SERVICES just take time to have a little thought for others then there would be no need to and our job of trying to keep everything under control, a lot easier and much more Aston Rowant Church Services pleasant. First Sunday of every month – 10am Family Service Our thanks go to our small band of willing helpers who assist us inside and outside 2nd, 3rd,4th Sundays 10am – Holy Communion the church. We won’t embarrass you but you know who you are and you do a sterling 3rd Sunday – Service of the Word with hymns and sermon job. Fifth Sundays see notice board in Church porch or village notice board 1st Tuesday of every month 8am – Morning Prayers Andy and Maggs Warman Wardens Crowell NBVM Crowell Church Services Crowell services will alternate during the vacancy. One month, Evening Prayer will be held on the first Sunday, and in the next month, the High Mass service will take place at 10am on the Second Sunday. 1st Sunday of the month 6pm – Evensong 2nd Sunday of the month 10am – Eucharist 3rd Saturday of the month – Soul Space at 5.30pm

6 7 CHRISTMAS SERVICES THE KINGSTON BLOUNT STREET FAYRE CHURCH OF ST PETER & ST PAUL Many of you may be aware that the Kingston Blount Street Fayre has been running ASTON ROWANT bi-annually for the last few years. Sadly, the majority of the Kingston Blount Street Fayre committee have decided not to continue with the Fayre moving forwards. Some of us have been involved with it since it started 10 years ago and it is time to Sunday 1st December - 4.00pm Christingle Service followed by tea hand over the reins to a new team – if there is one! We did try to recruit new help for (no morning service) the 2018 Fayre but sadly there were no newcomers. Sunday 22nd December - 4.00pm Carol Service (no morning service) If anyone is interested in getting a team together, we are all happy to pass on all the Tuesday 24th December - 4.00pm Crib Service contacts and any tips that we have. Christmas Day - 10.00am Family Communion Service It would be a shame if it didn’t continue. It was revived in 2009 following the previous success of the annual May Fayre, as most of us had young children and really Please note that there will be no Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Aston Rowant this wanted a fun community day. Maybe the next committee will have similar motives. I year, but you will be very welcome to join worshippers at either St Andrew’s, Chinnor think many children in our local villages have great memories of it since it began. or St Mary’s, Sydenham – both services at 11.30pm. For information, please email [email protected]. If you would like to help decorate the church for Christmas on Saturday morning, 21st December please contact Rona Knight 351315. Steph Johns on behalf of the KB Fayre Committee

NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – CROWELL NEW PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE Aston Rowant Parish Council is pleased to announce that it has a new website and Advent Bible Study – Join Jacky and the Ministry Team looking at the Advent Story new email addresses for all councillors and the clerk. through the eyes of the characters that we think we know so well from the book ‘The We’ve been working with a developer to create a website that works well on both Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ by Richard B Wilke. Tea and coffee with biscuits and a desktop computer as well as a smartphone. A bright and colourful site, it caters for even a mince pie or two. All 2.30pm to 4pm those with disabilities and offers all visitors accessible information on council business including meetings and planning. Parish meetings and local events are featured on a Wednesday 4th December Let’s keep Herod in Christmas calendar, and in time, the church, cricket club, school and police will have material on Wednesday 11th December Let’s keep the Wise men in Christmas their own pages on the site. Wednesday 18th December Let’s keep Joseph in Christmas The home page features current and topical news. It also details when the next Monday 23rd December Let’s keep the Shepherds in Christmas parish meeting is being held. Take a look – you’ll also find a box where you can sign up for monthly updates from the council. Signing up is free and will deliver an email into Other services your inbox on the first of each month - click through the links to keep up to date with Sunday 8th December - 10am Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer. No incense) developments. Visit www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk to find out more. Saturday 15th December (Note: No Soul Space this month) Adam Bernstein

Saturday 21st December - 4pm Advent readings and music

Please note there will be no Nine Lessons and Carols this year as we are not sure when the heating would be up and running, so there will be Advent readings and music instead without choir. Carol service as usual at St. Andrew’s 22nd December 6pm.

8 9 PARISH COUNCIL & LOCAL CONTACTS ASTON ROWANT PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

Parish Website I am pleased to open this edition’s update with the news that the new Parish Council astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk website is now live. The new site (https://www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk/) Parish Clerk provides quick access to meeting papers, planning applications and councillors’ contact Tracy Lambourne details. In addition, there are sections for all the main Council activities including Foot- [email protected] paths and Amenities, Highways and the Neighbourhood Plan. There are also links to 01844 353989 a wide range of local facilities and services. The site also allows individuals to subscribe 07971039612 to receive an email as and when items on the website are updated. The new website is Parish Councillors: being delivered at a significant cost saving to the previous provider and yet offers Chairman Peter Tinson, Kingston Blount greater functionality and flexibility. I would like to thank Councillors Adam Bernstein [email protected] 01844 352817 and Matt Priestley for their work in establishing the new site. I hope that the new Councillor Matthew Day, Kingston Blount website will prove to be a hub for all news and information in our community. [email protected] 07940752446 With the weather taking a turn for the worse, the Council has been perparing for Councillor Steven Sowerby, Kingston Blount winter. Two new salt bins have been purchased and a further two are on order. The [email protected] 01844 351392 two bins that have been delivered are located at the corner of the B4009 and Aston Councillor Trelawney Hill, Aston Rowant Rowant Road and by the telephone exchange in Kingston Blount. The additional bins [email protected] 01844 353051 will be placed near School Lane/Plowden Park and near Aston Gardens in Councillor Adam Bernstein, Aston Rowant Aston Rowant. [email protected] 07785 905120 Whilst the salt bins will help protect the villages against icy conditions, it is Councillor Matthew Priestley, Kingston Blount important to ensure that all ditches are well maintained and kept clear to reduce the [email protected] 07976 373512 risk of flooding. It is landowners’ responsibility to maintain ditches that run across or Councillor John Wyatt, Aston Rowant in front of their property. Please ensure that all ditches are clear so that flooding does [email protected] 07710 232349 not become and issue in the Parish. Finally, as this is the last edition of the Parish Notes in 2019, I should like to thank District Councillors: all the volunteers that help deliver many of the facilities and services in the Parish for Lynn Lloyd 01844 354313 [email protected] their sterling work over the year. I wish you all the best for the Festive season and for Ian White 01844 352085 [email protected] 2020. County Councillor Jeannette Matelot [email protected] MP Peter Tinson Chairman – Aston Rowant Parish Council John Howell 01491 612852 [email protected] Police Community Support Office tel: 101 [email protected] Village Hall Hire/Bookings Andrea Tinson 07391 139707 [email protected] Play Area Tracy Lambourne 01844 353989 [email protected] Aston Rowant Cricket Club Chairman Simon Tremlin 07780 672552 10 11 ASTON ROWANT PARISH COUNCIL NOTES All Planning Applications for the Parish can be found on the new Parish Council Website: www.astonrowantparishcouncil.gov.uk - under ‘Parish Council’ and Parish Council meetings were held on Wednesday 9th October and Wednesday 13th then ‘Planning’. November where the applications detailed below were discussed. At the time of writing, the next meeting of the Council will be held on Wednesday 11th December, All past minutes of Aston Rowant Parish Council (Including the Annual Parish and following that on Wednesday 8th January, in Kingston Blount Village Hall. Meeting) can be found under ‘Parish Council’ and then ‘Meetings’.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS: Occasional updates concerning the Parish are added to the Parish Council’s website and Facebook pages as well as the Kingston Blount/Aston Rowant (KBAR) Facebook P19/S4132/LDE – Wayside Road Running Through Kingston Stert Kingston Stert page. OX39 4NL Certificate of Lawful Use for the continued use of a timber business. P19/S3212/HH – Vine House Park Lane Kingston Blount OX39 4SL Tracy Lambourne, Part two storey, part single storey rear extension; new balcony at rear on existing flat roof; new porch shelter to front door; new windows. Clerk to Aston Rowant Parish Council P19/S3149/HH – Laurel Barn Stert Road Kingston Blount OX39 4SB Conversion of single private garage to third bedroom. P19/S3214/HH – The Old Vicarage The Green Aston Rowant OX49 5ST Installation of an air source heat pump.(Technical calculations received 13 November 2019). WITHDRAWN APPLICATIONS: None PLESTED BUTCHERS PLANNING DECISIONS OF SODC: 20 CHURCH RD, CHIINNOR, OX39 4PG 01844 353432 P19/S2900/HH – Glenmist Aston Hill Near Aston Rowant OX49 5SG Proposed installation of forty ground mounted solar panels covering an area of 95m squared. GRANTED P19/S2695/AG – Land at September Cottage Stert Road Kingston Blount OX39 4SA PURVEYORS OF FINE QUALITY FREE RANGE AND LOCAL MEATS Erection of agricultural building. GRANTED P19/S2455/DIS – The Malt House Church Lane Aston Rowant OX49 5SS Discharge of Condition 3 (Materials) on planning application P19/S1681/HH Pro- CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN posed single storey rear extension CALL IN FOR LAST ORDERS BY 14 DECEMBER GRANTED P19/S2426/HH TURKEYS COCKERELS GEESE Chestnut Barn Stert Road Kingston Blount OX39 4SB TOPSIDE GAMMON HAM Proposed single storey rear extension and fenestration alterations to existing dwelling COOKED MEATS PIES CHEESES GRANTED AND DON’T FORGET YOUR SAUSAGES AND BACON! PLANNING DECISIONS MADE SINCE THE LAST MEETING: MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR None.

12 13 OXFORDSHIRE 17

Stewardship Scheme. Traditional Chiltern chalkland 32 N THE GRANGE, ISLIP Mill Street, Islip, Kidlington, OX5 2SY. Ann & meadow in beautiful peaceful setting with 100 species of Jon Conibear, 01865 373494 (weekdays only), perennial wild flowers, grasses and 5 species of orchids. [email protected]. 2m E of Kidlington & ½m walk from parking area to meadow. Opportunity to approx 5m N of Oxford. The Grange is 400yds down Mill return via typical Chiltern beechwood. St on the R. The garden is 200yds from the car park. Wed f C 29 May (2-5.30). Adm £4, chd free. Home-made teas. Visits also by arrangement Mar to Oct for 34 THE GROVE groups of up to 20. North Street, Middle Barton, Chipping Norton, A 2½ acre garden in a former quarry with landscaped OX7 7BZ. Ivor & Barbara Hill. 7m E Chipping Norton. banks and cloud pruned hedges. The garden is naturalistic On B4030, 2m from junction A4260 & B4030, opp and combines wild planting with more formal planting of Cinnamon Stick restaurant. Parking in street. Sun 19 May shrubs and perennials. The woodland garden is planted (1.30-5). Adm £3.50, chd free. Home-made teas. with rare plants and there are wildflower meadows which Mature informal plantsman’s ⅓ acre garden, planted for look especially colourful in the spring. There is a small yr-round interest around C19 Cotswold stone cottage pond and bog garden edged by a rockery with interesting (not open). Numerous borders with wide variety of ferns. The garden has steep gravel paths and is on several unusual shrubs, trees and hardy plants; several species levels. weigela, syringe, viburnum and philadelphus. Pond area, f g b well stocked greenhouse. Plant list and garden history available. Home-made preserves for sale. Wheelchair 33 GREENFIELD FARM access to most of garden. , Nr Watlington, OX49 5HG. e g b Andrew & Jane Ingram, 01491 612434, [email protected]. 4m from J5 M40, 7m from Henley. J5 M40, A40 towards Oxford for ½m, turn L signed Christmas Common. ¾m past Fox & Hounds , turn L at Tree Barn sign. Visits by arrangement May to Sept for groups of up to 30. Adm £4, chd free. Find us on Facebook @NGSOxfordshire 10 acre wild flower meadow surrounded by woodland, established 22 yrs ago under the Countryside NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Oxfordshire Grown, seasonal garden flowers The Aston Rowant Neighbourhood Development Plan seems fated to take forever to get to the stage at which we can formally consult the parish. It was to be early Flowers all grown on our 20 year established plant nursery. Cottage garden favourites along in 2019, but SODC’s change of direction regarding sites in smaller villages led to a with many more unusual flowers and shrubs delay of several months. In May this year, the local elections threw another spanner from the meadow. Our style is loose, organic in our works, as the whole Local Plan was thrown up in the air – more delay over the and textured with lots of scent. summer. This autumn we decided to go ahead regardless of SODC’s uncertainty, but the Minister of Housing pitched into the local plan debate, and local matters like ours We supply bouquets of flowers which can be delivered within the Oxfordshire area or by stayed on the back-burner. Expecting, or rather hoping, that this would be resolved in post further afield, buckets of cut flowers for October, to allow NP Consultation before Christmas, we have been foiled again, this you to arrange yourself without making a time by Boris Johnson’s call for a General Election in December. This puts all matters dent in your own flower bed. with any hint of a political flavour, including Neighbourhood Plan consultations, on hold until after 12 December. It would be wrong to start a consultation just before We also provide a full wedding service, flowers for parties and funerals. Christmas, so we’ll be hoping that nothing stands in our way early in the New Year. In the meantime, the draft Neighbourhood Plan has been made available for Babylon Flowers, Chestnut Farm, , perusal on the Parish Council website – it’s a gripping read and lack of familiarity will Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5ND be a poor excuse when public meetings take place and comments are formally invited, Tel: 07958119485 in January …. February …. Whenever. email [email protected] www.babylonflowers.co.uk Mark Thackeray Chairman Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee TRAFFIC CALMING As mentioned previously the traffic calming scheme for Kingston Blount has been approved and we have a fully costed design ready for constriction. The difficult bit is securing all the money, and I have been fundraising for this for a long while now and I hope to have some good news soon. I have made a number of grant applications to SODC and OCC. The most hopeful source would come from funding that is secured by SODC from housing developers under a new scheme called Community Infrastructure Levy or CIL. When new housing development is approved the developers have to pay a certain amount of money to SODC and that money has to be spent on infrastructure projects, such as traffic calming, but also highways improvements, pavements, footpaths etc. So when we apply for funding we are competing against other projects and there is no guaran- tee we will get the money. I have applied for funding from the CIL money obtained from the housing development in Chinnor and am arguing that the new housing will generate new and greater traffic issues for us here further down the B4009 and as such some of the money should be spent outside Chinnor to help elevate the traffic issue that the new housing will generate. I continue to press SODC for the funds and hope to have a positive answer shortly. Matthew Day, Aston Rowant Parish Council 14 15 ASTON ROWANT SCHOOL HOUSE TRUST THE FOOTPATH & AMENITIES GROUP Improving footpaths & bridleways in & out of the parish The Aston Rowant School House Educational Trust was set up in 1992 when the former teacher’s house, belonging to Aston Rowant Church of Primary School, was sold. The money from the sale was invested to raise income which is Permissive Path from Kingston Blount to Crowell available to assist with education. We have decided to open the footpath to all walkers as of now. The official opening The precise rules are that the Scheme allows the Trustees to apply the income: will come later after signs have been put up, further work to the surface at each end is a) In or towards promoting the education of pupils attending the Aston Rowant completed and rubbish cleared at the Crowell end. I have to emphasise you walk it at Church of England Primary School. your own risk, not that it is much of a risk compared to walking on the B4009! The b) In or towards promoting the education (including social and physical training) signs will credit the land owner, Alan Hill, who granted the Parish Council a 30-year of persons under the age of 25 years who have at any time attended the school or licence for use of his land, and to The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment for who are resident in the Parish of Aston Rowant. offering a grant, and to the Parish Council, who have funded the project so far. As is Some residents in the parish may either have children or are themselves eligible required by most funding bodies, your Parish Council has offered a grant themselves. to obtain a grant. To be considered you need to apply in writing to the Trustees who will consider applications at their bi-annual meetings in May and November. Each Extension of the Permissive footpath from Crowell to Chinnor application will be considered on merit – there is no guarantee. Several Parishioners have asked why the footpath cannot be extended? Well of course If you would like more information please contact: it could and should be. But these things don’t happen of their own accord and whilst Peter Lambert 01844 352617 or it would be of huge advantage to our Parish, the responsibility shouldn’t rest with Mary Williams 01844 353927 ARPC. The large majority of the land would again be in Crowell, and that Parish should take the lead with the support of ARPC and Chinnor Councils. First of all, discussions need to take place with the land owner. If he were to be in agreement, then I am sure that grants would be available to enable this to happen.

The Foot Sanctuary Planting of Trees devoted to providing the best healthcare for your feet This winter, our group also hope to plant more Rowan trees and a Holm Oak along the Lower and at Fiveways subject to land owner permission. Medical Pedicure using Neal’s Yard Products New Year Parish Walk on Sunday 5 January Podiatry - Chiropody This year’s circular walk will start from the Leathern Bottle pub in at 10.00 Paraffin Wax Treatment on Sunday 5th January. It is 6 miles and will follow the route of the Aston Rowant Cryosurgery Reflexology Discovery Trail. One hill, no stiles, but please wear boots. Some of us will have lunch Reiki with crystals at the Leathern Bottle at about 1pm after the walk. Once again, this is a joint venture with Thame and Wheatley Ramblers and forms part of the Ramblers Christmas and 58 Road New Year Walking Festival and is open to anyone who wants a good New Year Walk. Milton Common OX9 2JL Peter Hetherington 01844 278606 Chairman Aston Rowant Parish Council Footpath and Amenities Group 07941 035849 07767 647714

Sue Yeowart HCPC 26216 reg. Podiatrist Chiropodist Reflexologist ~ Reiki Master ~ Intuitive Healer

16 17 LOCAL ADVERTISING – email [email protected] NEWS FROM FIVEWAYS

There is no shortage of water! The spring on the left going down Church lane has SHARON FINDLOW REFLEXOLOGY started up. All the springs emerge about the same distance from the Chilterns – along & AROMATHERAPY the B4009. The water is high quality and hence is increasingly abstracted, which is a problem for most rivers these days. In the Winter the springs are relatively warm which is welcomed by the fish. Coming from the Blue Cross, there is a very muddy Treatments in Chinnor ditch across the Lower Icknield way, this is where an ancient stream crossed the path and ran on towards what is now a copse on the left hand side going north. I have had my first weed delivery after my last newsletter and I am now looking for helpers to put them in! There are very few flowers left now, just a few motley red www.therapyforwellbeing.com Campion until the snowdrops flower in late January. There have been a few dead and damaged American signal crayfish found on www.facebook.com/therapyforwellbeing Church lane near Fiveways – I suspect it was otters – but there is no way of know- ing. These crayfish (about 12 cm.) were full grown and sadly are very common in all Thames tributaries. If caught they have to be killed or eaten – to trap them you need an Environment Agency permit. Personally I think their culinary value is over-rated Enquiries welcome 07917 817923 and are a lot of work to prepare. There are some professional trappers out there, but I [email protected] 20% OFF FIRST TREATMENT will not be joining them. Some of the local lakes and rivers are trapped to remove this damaging alien species. ITEC Dip MAR MCThA CNHC 20 years experience Over the coming months we will try to tidy up the shrubs and larger weeds and get ready for the duck racing on February 16th. I haven’t seen the water voles this year or the stoat. As the water rises it is worth watching for sticklebacks and bullheads when the water colours up. There are plenty of deer about though; some in small groups. It was a good year for butterflies with a lot of gatekeepers enjoying the flowers.

Mike Eaton Grace gcb 01844 351238 carpentry & building All aspects of carpentry and building work undertaken A friendly, reliable and trustworthy service

Tel: 01494 482787 Mob: 07725 328 049 Email: [email protected]

18 19 NOTICEBOARD NOTICEBOARD What’s going on in Kingston Blount,

Aston Rowant & nearby Sign of the Times & Newspaper Delivery Has everyone seen the lovely new but old-fashioned sign at the entrance to Aston Rowant opposite Woodway Farm? The old wooden one must have been there for Cantilena Winds fifty years or more and has been failing for ages; Richard and Rachel Lockwood have The sound of Christmas is returning to Kingston Blount! taken it upon themselves to create a new one in wood, painted it themselves and also Come along to the Village hall from 11.00am to 1.00pm on 13th December and rescued as much of the old metal lettering of the old one as possible. It looks great enjoy some great festive sounds from the Chinnor based band, Cantilena Winds. and they have even moved it slightly so that it can be seen more easily. Well done and Entry is free and refreshments, tea, coffee, wine and a selection of filled rolls and cakes, many thanks to Richard and Rachel. will be available for purchase. Please do join us and enjoy a warm welcome and some great music. Many of you will be missing the daily delivery that Carolyn and Nick Potter have been carrying out for Elizabeth Graham-Troll and her husband Peter. It had become St Andrew’s Christmas Tree Festival too much for all of them. Efforts are being made to find a new source and the best This is an annual event at St Andrew’s Church, Chinnor, with Christmas trees lighting chance seems to be The Cocolate Box in Thame, but it is proving difficult to find a up the church, each telling a different story. Running from 7-15 December, this year’s definitive and large enough list of people who want a delivery. theme is ”All I want for Christmas is ....”. There is a programme of entertainment If you would like to start or continue receiving a paper, please let me know – during the festival adding to the magical Christmas atmosphere. Visitors are invited [email protected] or on 351315. Not the details please, just your name and (for a small entrance donation) to wander through the forest of decorated trees, enjoy address or email and I will hope to pass them on, but no promises I’m afraid! live music, singing and refreshments, while soaking up the festive atmosphere. All Julian Knight monies raised during the festival are for St Andrew’s Church Stonework Appeal. All the trees will be stripped on Monday 16th December and the real trees can be taken New Year Parish Walk home from 10:30am for a small donation. Please see the website for more information This takes place on Sunday 5th January. Starting from the Leathern Bottle, it will be chinnorunitedchurches.co.uk 6 miles following the route of the Aston Rowant Discovery Trail (see page 17).

Church flowers Allotments Available We’ll be decorating the church for Christmas on Saturday morning, 21st December. Please contact Rupert Wolstenholme if you are interested in taking on an allotment. If you’d like to help you’d be very welcome, as would some holly and ivy. [email protected], 07866 302697 Rona Knight 351315

New Editor Needed for Parish Notes Watlington Gardening Club Would you like to edit the Parish Notes? An increase in workload means that I will A small friendly group who meet monthly on the first Wednesday of the month in no longer be able to edit the Parish Notes. I work in Adobe InDesign but you could Watlington Town Hall at 7.45pm for a specialist talk with tea, coffee and biscuits. set them up in any programme you like – the printer just needs a PDF. They are All members and guests are very welcome. The 4th of December meeting is the published every two months, six times a year. It would be a real shame to see them Christmas Social. There will be a festive talk by Howard Drury called ‘Making dissapear, so if you think you could help with them please do get in touch. You’ll be Autumn Last until Christmas’ based on John Massey’s garden at Ashwood. There will guaranteed to meet a lot of lovely people that live in the village and it’s the kind of be wine and mince pies served. There is no meeting in January. project you can make your own. It might work well for two people to share, and I On the 5th February Stephen Cotton will give a talk on ‘Green Spain North and would of course be happy to talk you through it and help with the first few issues. South’. This will be about the flowers and habitats in the Picos de Europa. Sarah Day [email protected]

20 21 NEWS FROM ARCC

Firstly, best wishes to everyone as we approach the festive season. The end of the year means that it is now time to reflect on the events of 2019. After our recent AGM, I am delighted to report that after a very poor 2018, the club has returned to profit in the year ending Sept 2019. Our thanks to all the people who supported the club through playing, social membership, sponsorship and use of the club facilities. We would specifically like to thank committee members who have stood down after, in some cases, many years of service. As reported in an earlier Parish Notes the club house is staying open on a Friday night, this will last until at least Christmas. On Sunday 15th December at lunchtime, we will see the return of the Christmas Cheese and Wine Lunch that used to be held every year, all are welcome to join us. At the AGM, it was confirmed that we have withdrawn the revised application P19/S0842/FUL for the new pavilion. The original application still stands for another 18 months and the club is using that time to fully evaluate all options including the refurbishment of the old pavilion. In the meantime, we are raising an application to replace the now dilapidated buildings that are on the cricket grounds. The biggest items are the sheds that have been used as dressing rooms since 2011. The proposed replacement portacabins, which will be sited in the same place as the current sheds, are not a permanent solution for the long term. But will allow us, in the short term, to have dressing rooms which are safe and waterproof. The proposal will also allow us to provide the separate changing facilities for the ever-increasing number of young ladies who are playing cricket. We are also proposing to purchase a shipping container to replace one of the storage sheds, which is close to falling down, and to also replace the ‘ice-cream’ van that has been used as a scoring box on the second ground since the new field was created. A simple garden shed will replace the van. Another of our old players has joined the professional ranks with Dan Moriarty, who was our overseas player last year, signing a contract with Surrey. We wish him, Linsey Smith who has signed for the new ladies100 competition in 2020 and Miles Hammond at Gloucestershire all the best for the future. Finally, the club are looking, as ever, for new blood not just new players but also scorers and umpires. Anyone interested in these roles, for which both training is available and payment made, please contact either Simon Tremlin or myself, our contact details can be found on page 10 of these Parish Notes.

Steven Sowerby

22 23 TESSA WYATT’S COUNTRYSIDE DIARY

3rd Oct Lovely big white field mushrooms growing on The Green today. Delicious on hot buttered toast! 5th Oct Down in the field the morning mist was curling up off the ground like smoke, and what I thought to be frost was actually a carpet of spider webs all over Sam and friends’ field. Autumn has its good side. We have picked all our pears and John is putting them in salads. Yum! 25th Oct If you’re having a bonfire, do check that no little prickly characters are sleeping in your garden heap! I had a look – no hedgehogs, just a large and rather grumpy rat! 31st Oct Tinker has been very busy scent marking all the borders of the garden. She has to redo this after each visit by a neighbouring cat. Daisy-Next-Door thinks it’s her territory and has twice chased poor Tinker back through her own cat flap. 1st Nov Colder weather, and sometimes cats and wild things climb under the bonnet of cars to enjoy the residual warmth of the engine. A tap on the bonnet should bring any out! 3rd Nov Found a group of Shaggy Ink Caps, or Lawyers Wigs on The Green where the old The Montessori Nursery School chestnut was cut down. Leaving them in the hopes for more. They make good eating The Village Hall, Kingston Blount, OX39 4SWT when young but they’re horrid once the wigs open! 07846 254547 6th Nov themontessorinurseryschool.co.uk A real find in Sam’s field today. A beautifully knapped flint, shaped like a blunt spear MEAB Accredited & Ofsted inspected ‘Good’ head, but rounded on one side. It looks like a Neolithic period hand tool, probably a scraper for cleaning skins. Really comfy to hold. Too small for a wall, and found a good half mile from any houses, so I’m hoping it’s the real thing. Am going to get it checked, so watch this space. ‘We support children’s inherent love of learning.’ 7th Nov I know it’s a bit late to be saying this, but please don’t spray your flowers with any kind Maria Montessori of insecticide, it may kill the aphids, but it also kills ladybirds, ants, all kinds of flies like hoverflies – and bees! The nursery accepts children from the age of 2 to 5 years. 9th Nov Introductory Montessori classes from 2 to 2 ½ years of age. Freezing cold morning, still only 1 deg at 8.30, and the horses loomed out of the fog like wraiths as they came for their breakfast. My fingers were so stiff I couldn’t do their The nursery is part of Oxfordshire funding scheme headcollars up, so I sort of herded them towards their bowls. They were being very for 2,3, and 4 year olds. good, only two got it wrong! Note to self: must pick sloes for Christmas gin! Please contact the nursery for further information. Tessa Wyatt 24 25 LOCAL ADVERTISING – email [email protected] CITIZENS ADVICE CELEBRATES 80 YEARS

Volunteers and staff from Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale were joined by representatives from the town and district councils at the Guildhall in Abingdon on 15th October to celebrate 80 years of service to the local community. Citizens Advice was founded on 4 September 1939, the day after World War II was declared, to help people deal with the impact of war. Volunteers gave advice on evacuation, ration books, new housing for those whose homes had been bombed, and CREATIVE LANDSCAPE GARDENING even provided recipes using the limited ingredients available on rationing. Eighty years on, the issues may have changed, but the core values of Citizens Ad- • Patios & paths • Brickwork • Planting & hedging vice remain the same: to provide free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone everywhere. Last year, Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale, an independent • Fencing • Driveways • Wildflower meadows charity, helped 11,999 people resolve 20,200 problems including debt, housing, Uni- versal Credit, benefits, family problems and consumer issues. For many people this • Lawns • Garden maintenance • Tree surgery service is a lifeline. Jon Bright, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale, said: • Woodland management • Agricultural fencing ‘This service is only possible thanks to the dedication and commitment of our 160 highly trained volunteers who give up their time to help people in our community find a solution to their problems.’ Telephone: 01844 351919 Mobile: 07718 257104 The number of people seeking advice has increased by 30 per cent over the last Email: [email protected] Website: www.rowlandscapes.com three years and the local offices need more volunteers to keep the service running. Volunteer posts include: advisers, receptionists, administrators, IT support and fund- raisers. If you are interested, contact Citizens Advice Oxfordshire South and Vale for more information on 01235 550553 or email [email protected] HEATING OIL SYNDICATE Adam Bernstein runs an oil syndicate with the sole aim of saving members money on Experienced Flooring Contractors for heating oil. QUALITY CARPETS The syndicate covers Aston Rowant, Chinnor Hill, Christmas Common, Crowell, TILES, VINYLS & WOOD FLOORING Kingston Blount, Milton Common, Lewknor, and – and further if there’s a need. It costs nothing to join or be a member of and carries no obligation DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL to buy. It runs in November, January/February (depending on the weather) and June. INSURANCE ESTIMATES To illustrate the savings, for the top up in June – the syndicate rate was 45.5p/ ADAPTION & REPAIRS litre plus VAT from Watson. However, just buying 500 litres would have cost between 49.95p/litre plus VAT (Sweetfuels) and 54.5p/litre plus VAT (Barton). Contact Airs House Carpets today for a professional To join the syndicate just email your full postal address, phone number and any supply and fitting service. special access requirements to [email protected]. 01844 350440.

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26 27 CHINNOR GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME Chinnor Good Neighbour Scheme started in 2011 with the aim of providing support in our community, generally helping people where friends and family are unable to do so. Since 2011 we have been able to help over 300 different people in Chinnor and the surrounding area (including Aston Rowant, Crowell, Henton, Kingston Blount and MICK HOBDELL Sydenham). We are now doing over 1,100 jobs per year helping people in a number of different ways, eg odd jobs such as shopping, gardening, collecting prescriptions, getting Plumbing & Heating Engineer to/from appointments (at doctors, dentists, hospitals, hairdressers, etc), or even just sitting and having a coffee and a chat. Oil Boiler/Aga Services and Repairs Our volunteers are happy to visit anyone who needs help, whatever their age – we are happy to be here for you, and we will always help if we can. Power flushing (to remove build-up in central heating All of our volunteers are committed to helping the community in the Chinnor area, working in harmony with the other village community services. Our volunteers have systems, increasing efficiency) all been checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and they all carry identification. General Plumbing So if you think that we may be able to help you in any way, or you would like to know more about joining us as a volunteer, then please contact us on 01844 353500 or via our email address [email protected]; alternatively you can get more Phone 07554 426113 or 01844 281521 information about us from our website www.chinnorgns.co.uk, or pop in to the Chinnor Tetsworth Nr Thame Parish Council Office and pick up a leaflet. Martin King (Chairman) & David DeVal (Co-ordinator)

SANTA'S SUNDAY LUNCH At Mercure Thame Lambert Hotel 15th December 2019

This year take a break from the Christmas rush and meet up with friends and family for a delicious three course festive lunch in our kite restaurant. After lunch, the children will have the chance to meet Father Christmas and his elves and to get into the festive spirit and the magic of Christmas. Standard tickets for children are £15 per child and include's a personalised visit to Santa, present from Santa and 3 course meal. Adults: £23.95 for a 3 course festive lunch menu Sittings Times Available 12.00pm, 12.30pm, 1.00pm, 1.30pm, 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.00pm. 3.30pm

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30 31 LETTER FROM THE HEADTEACHER

I have a friend who always wears odd socks. She never tries to pair them up. She never worries about matching them to her outfit. She loves the freedom of wearing what she wants on her feet and that each foot is different. The more reserved part of my nature prevents me from joining her, but deep down I think that I am missing out. As I write we are coming to the end of our Anti Bullying Week in school. As part of the week we have had an ‘Odd Sock Day’. The day itself is designed to be fun! It’s an opportunity to encourage people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique. We had all sorts of colours and sizes of socks and when put together brightened our classrooms no end. A welcome change from the grey! However, it also gives us the opportunity to reflect on how we as people are all different too. Our unique and individual personalities, gifts and talents brighten our school and make it a happy, joyous place to learn. We were all created to be different and we each bring something special to our school community. At Aston Rowant School we love to give people freedom to be themselves and we celebrate each and everyone for who they really are. I think that my friend really is on to something...

Mrs Helen France Headteacher, Aston Rowant School

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38 39 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY DECEMBER 1 Christingle Service, Aston Rowant church, 4pm (p.8) 4 Watlington Gardening Club (p.20) 7 Christmas Market, St Mary’s church, Sydenham 12–2pm 8 Eucharist, Crowell church, 10am p.8 7–15 Christmas Tree Festival, St Andrew’s church, Chinnor (p.20) 13 Cantilena Winds (p.20, 52) 15 Santa’s Sunday Lunch at the Lambert Arms (p.29) 20 Countryside Carols, St Mary’s church, Sydenham 7pm 21 Advent Readings & Music, Crowell church, 4pm (p.8) 22 Carol Service, Aston Rowant church, 4pm (p.8) 24 Crib Service, Aston Rowant church, 4pm (p.8) 25 Family Communion Service, Aston Rowant church, 10am (p.8) JANUARY 5 New Year Parish Walk (p.17) 8 ARPC Meeting (p.12) 15 Copy due for February/March Parish Notes

FEBRUARY 5 Watlington Gardening Club (p.20) 14 Jersey Boys at the Lambert Arms (p.2) 16 Duck Races REGULAR DATES MONDAYS FRIDAYS Kindergym Thame Tiddlypeeps 9.30am Chinnor Zumba 6.30pm KB Village Hall Gentle Chair Based Exercises every alternate Friday from TUESDAYS 10.30am KBVH Bell Ringing 7.30pm Aston Rowant WEDNESDAYS SATURDAYS Kettlebell Abs 6.00pm KB Village Hall Soul Space 5.30pm Crowell Church Yoga 7.00pm KB Village Hall (now only 3rd Saturday of month) THURSDAYS SUNDAYS (1st of month) StarBoddlers 11.00am Chinnor Full Circle, Aston Rowant School Aston Rowant Church Family 12-1pm (term-time) Friendly service 10.00am Flowers 4 All (third Thursday) KBVH Copy for the February/March issue is due on 15th January Please email [email protected]